CDC: Youth tobacco use down in 2016

The number of middle and high school students reporting current tobacco use dropped from 4.7 million in 2015 to 3.9 million in 2016, according to a report released today by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Current use of electronic cigarettes decreased among middle school students and use of any tobacco product decreased among high school students. However, decreases in cigarette and cigar use between 2011 and 2016 were offset by increases in hookah and e-cigarette use. “Far too many young people are still using tobacco products, so we must continue to prioritize proven strategies to protect our youth from this preventable health risk,” said CDC Acting Director Anne Schuchat, M.D.